California-based Don Lee Farms says it’s the first company to produce a certified organic vegan burger that looks, cooks, and tastes like conventional hamburgers. The burgers are now available at Costco club stores and select Whole Foods Markets across the country.
The 36-year-old family-run company says its new burger is a “breakthrough” product made from certified organic beans and seeds. It’s free from GMOs, artificial ingredients, and preservatives.
“It’s a burger made with plants, not with science,” Danny Goodman, Product Development, Don Lee Farms, said in a statement. “As people choose to consume less meat, they expect a burger alternative to be made with simple, wholesome and recognizable ingredients. This is the burger for them. This product is another example of what our team develops by focusing on each ingredient’s purpose. Because we crafted this burger from organic and responsible sources, it’s truly the only sustainable replacement for a raw beef burger.”
The company joins Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods in the “bleeding” burger market that’s taken the humble veggie burger to iconic status in recent years.Like competitors Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, beets give the Don Lee Foods burger its red “bleeding” effect. Both Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have seen significant market success with placement in key restaurant and retail outlets over the last several years. And the burgers appeal to a wide audience — meat-eaters, as well as vegans and vegetarians, seek out the vegan burgers not just for health and environmental reasons, but according to a recent study, many simply prefer the taste of plant-based proteins.
“We have been a supplier of plant-based proteins for many years, and as the leading manufacturer of organic veggie burgers in the country, we are excited to introduce another plant-based burger,” Donald Goodman, President of Don Lee Farms said in a statement. “Our customers are looking for an alternative to a raw beef burger and we responded with a healthier approach — making a burger with organic plants. We challenge everyone to look at the ingredients found in other plant-based raw burgers currently being sold, you would be surprised.”